Fabric drawoff means for textile machines



Jan. 25, 1944. w KAQL 2,340,244

FABRIC DRAW-OFF MEANS FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed April 1, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fla-L- INVENTORZ Emil William Kaul, BY [1/ ATTORNE Jan. 25, 13944. 4 w, K U 2,340,244;

' FABRIC DRAW-OFF MEANS FOR TEXTILE MACHINES' Filed April 1, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE'YNTORZ v Emil Mlliam Kat/l,

nism thereof.

properties.

Patented 25, 1944 Emil William Kalli, Wyomissing, Pa, assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 1, 1942, Serial No. 431,100 r 15 Claims. (Cl. 06-, 1.49)

This invention relates to the fabric draw-off means of textile machines, suchas straight or full-fashioned knitting machines and the like,

fabrics or'welts from the loop-forming mecha- Rlods have long been satisfactorily. employed to connect folded welts of stockings to the fabric draw-oil? means of straight or full-fashioned hosiery knitting machines. Such rods have been found unsatisfactory in certain respects when used on machines equipped with automatic or semi-automatic welt mechanisms of the type hereinafter referred to, which are provided with guide channels for the rods. A difficulty experienced is that in such installations the rod ends I are subjected to excessive wear, thereby decreasing the eiliciency and reliability of the fabricdrawoff means.

One object of my invention is to provide novel fabric draw-oil! means for knitting machines and which employ rod members for drawing folded Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view showing a welt rod of the invention;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a replaceable welt rod end portion-constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional viewtaken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, certain parts being broken away;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a solid welt rod portion constructed in accordance with my the like, which overcomes the mentioned and other. difnculties.

Another object is to provide an improved fabric draw-oil rod particularly adapted for use on fullfshioned knitting machines provided with cer tain automatic or semi-automatic welt mechanisms A further object is to provide an improved welt rod for full-fashioned knitting machines having end portions of special wear-resistant It is also an object to provide an improved welt rod for full-fashioned knitting machines comprising portions of different wear resistant A further object is to provide an improved rod 'of the type adapted for use as a welt rod for fullfashioned knitting machines and the like comprising a mafn body or central section, and interchangeable end parts.

' With these and other objects inview, which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of my invention shown in the accomp yin drawings, the invention resides in the novel rod construc- -Full'-Fashioned Knitting Machines PartsiCatainvention;

Fig. 7 is a view showing part of the rod of Fig.

6 provided with a replaceable end portion; and

8 is a view similar to Fig. '7 showing another modification of the invention.

In the drawings and description, only those parts of a knitting machine necessary to a complete understanding of the invention, are presented; further information as to the construction and operation of other related, usual and well known knitting elements, mechanisms, etc,,

may be found in one or more of 'the following publications:

1. Pamphlet entitled-Full-Fashioned Knitting Machines-published and copyrighted by the Textile Machine .Works, Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1920.

2. Three catalogues entitled-The Reading logpublished and copyrighted by the Textile Machine Works, in 1929, 1935 and1940, respectively. p

'3. Booklet entitledThe Reading" High Production Full-Fashioned Knitting Machinewhich forms a supplement to the above noted 5 1940 parts catalog of the Textile Machine Works, and which booklet is a publication of, the Textile Machine Works, and was copyri hted by the latter in 1940.

*4. Pamphlet entitledKnitting Machine Lechires-published by the Wyomlssing Polytechnic Institute, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, in 1935.

tion and fabric draw-off means comprising the new elements, features of construction and arrangmentmf parts in cooperative relationship.

as'herein disclosed, and hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Inthe drawings:

Figure1isatopviewofpartofafull-fash--' ioned knitting machine showing my invention in operation;

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings are shown parts of one knitting section of a multi-sction straight or full-fashioned legger. knitting machine which operate in customary manner to produce knitted fabric, and to tension and draw such fabric from the knitting instrumentalities and wind it on take-up means as it is produced. Such knitting mechanism is of well known construction and comprises in general a bank of needles in arranged uprightly :ln'parallel resu- 1 as larlyspacedrelationshipinaneedlebarlzwhlch is operated in well known manner so that the needles l8 thereof cooperate with sinkers and dividers generally indicated at 13 and knockover bits l4 of a sinker-head unit l5 to produce knitted fabric S from yarn fed to said implements take-up mechanism (Figs. 1 and 2) which com-- prises in general spaced members or bridges l6 fastened to a table or front bed I! as by screws 18, on which the fabric connecting means, such as welt bar I 9 and welt or draw-off rod are supported for movement therealong. The welt bars I 9 and the welt rods 20 are connected to draw-oil. bands or straps 22 and 23 as by con nector members 22a and 2311, respectively, and

are moved along the bridges l6 by respective takeup reels, the reel for straps 23 being shown at 24. The reels for straps 22 are not shown, but are in general similar to reels 24. The take-up reels 24 are fastened to a shaft 25 mounted for rotation in bearing brackets such as 26 secured to a usual presser shaft (not shown) which is provided to move the needles l8 toward and from the sinker head unit I5. This connection of the fabric to both the needles l0 and the take-up reel 24, both of which are simultaneously moved toward and from the sinkerhead !5 by the presser' shaft, reciprocates the fabric connector parts, such as thewelt rod 20, relative to the stationary rod support members Hi. This reciprocatory sliding action of the rod 28 on its supports, combined with its movement therealong effected by the winding of connector bands 23 on the reel 24, causes such wear as may result to be concentrated on the rod ends.

In prior art full-fasioned knitting machines where it is customary to manually and independently place each welt bar [9 into position for the hooks l9a thereof to receive the sinker and divider loops of the starting course of each fabric in each knitting section, the top surfaces of the bridges are used to support the welt bars throughout their entire operative cycle, after which the ,the bridges It can not be used to support and guide the welt rods 20in such machines, the opposed side portions of cooperating bridges. are grooved as at 21 to receive and guide the rod ends therein. The welt rods are thus moved in a plane below the welt bars and above the table as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. I

The mechanism herein illustrated for simultaneously advancing a plurality of welt bars l9 into loop receiving position, comprises in general a shaft 28 which extends lengthwise of the machine and which is rotatably mounted in bearings 29 fastened to the front bed or table H as by bolts 30. By turning the shaft 28 counterclockwise from the position of Fig. 2, arms 3|, which are secured to the shaft 28 and which are pivotally connected to links 32, thrust studs or travellers 33 on the free ends of links 32 against wear.

plates 34 fastened to the welt bar l9, thereby advancing the bars I?! toward the sinkerhead l5 so that projections l9b on bars l9 come into engagement with lugs 35 extending from the bridges 86 (Fig. 1). The bands or straps 22 which draw the welt bars from the needles in a draw-off. di-' rection also function tobias the combined positioning and wear plates 34 of the welt bars into yielding engagement with travellers 33 during movement of the bars toward the needles, as well as when the bars are inactively positioned as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The travel of the studs 33, upon turning of the shaft 28, is confined to a path parallel to the bridges l6 so as to remain in operative position relative to the same surfaces of the bridges are utilized to support the welt rods throughout their operative cycle until sufficient fabric has been knitted to permit-the rods 20 to ride from the bridges I8 and be wrapped on the take-up reel 24. In such cases the welt bars I! are placed on the table or front bed I! and are there inactively positioned so as not to interfere with the operation of the welt rods 20. Inasmuch as the top surfaces of the bridges it are thus usedto support the welt bars I! and the welt rods 20 at different times, the full width of each of :the bridges I6 is utilized as a bearing surface for said members. -Wear incident to such sliding of the rod on the bridges is, consequently, distributed over each rod end for a distance corresponding to the full bridge width.

0n thos machines, however, where means is provided, as in the case of semi-automatic welt i. e., during the entire operative cycle of the welt rods 20. Consequently, since the top surfaces of plates 34 on bar I9, by means of guide brackets 36 which are'carried thereby and whose angle by means of the tension applied to the straps 22 Since, as I by the take-up means (not shown). previously indicated, the welt bars I9 are kept on the bridges l6 while the welt rods are being used to tension and draw the fabric from the needles, and since the top surfaces of the bridges It cannot be used to support the welt rods in mechanisms of the type herein set forth, the surface available for such use is considerably less than hitherto; this will be apparent from a comparison of the width of the bearing surface provided by the grooves 21 with the full width of the bridges IS. A combination of various factors, such as the reduced bearing surface provided for thewelt rods on machines of the type mentioned and the high speeds at which these machines are operated, results in the rod ends being worn down more rapidly than heretofore.

To provide a welt rod particularly adapted for use with welt mechanisms of the type above explained, the present invention comprises an improved rod construction having replaceable end portions whose 'wear resisting characteristics enable said end portions to resist the additional wear placed thereon because of the reduced bearing surface and the higher speed operation of the mechanisms associated therewith as compared with prior devices.

One such construction as shown in the drawings comprises a rod 28 having a main body portion 20:: of uniform tubular construction throughout adapted to receive replaceable wear resistant rod ends or insert portions 2!, see Fig. 5. These inserts 2| are preferably formed of material embodying relatively high wear resist;-

ant properties compared to the intermediate poi; tions of the rod, such as hardened steelx 'i'o facilitate securing of the rod ends 2| to the-hol low body portion a, each rod end 2| is preferably shouldered at 2Ia as shown, thereby,forming cylindricalportions 2| b and 2lc of difieren't diameters, the heavier or bearing portion I}; being adapted to slide in the groove portions the bridges [8, whereas the portion 'j2l serted into an end of the hollow body ent parts of the rod are so constructed when assembled there will be no gaps between the rii'd i n; 20a and secured thereto as by a press fit, older-2*" ing, or some other known manner. h diffep" members separably mounted on said reduced sections of the same diameter as the non-reduced portion of the element.

ranged support members, a take-up reel, strap' r members attached to said reel and having rod coz'inecting means attached to their free ends,

and a rod member for connecting a folded hem ends and the main n. ereas the bearing portion 2lb of each rod end}! isof the' same diameter as the body portion 1199. The completed rod 20 will accordingly in effect have an unbroken surface and will be of uniform diof fabric to said connecting means and comprising a fabric engaging portion and cylindrical hardened replaceable end portion arranged to slide along said supp rts.

6. In a textile machine, fabric draw-oil means comprising a. pair of parallel horizontally arranged support members, a take-up reel, strap members attached to said reel and having. rod

connecting means attached to their free ends,

ameter throughout, so as to reduce the likelihood This invention may also be applied to a welt rod of solid cross section as is shown by the modified forms of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, which forms particularly adapt themselves to the rebuilding of solid rods of the type heretofore generally used on machines not equipped with automatic or semi-automatic welt mechanism, for use on machines so equipped. To provide a solid rod with replaceable end portions. the ends 411a and Me of rods 40 and 4| are shaped to receive replaceable end portions such as a cap member 42 and a sleeve or collar member 43, respectively. Such members may be slipped over the rod ends and fastened thereto of the fabric becoming engaged or pinched there-.

I said hollow portion and arranged to and a rod member for connecting a folded hem of fabric tosaid connecting means and comprising a hollow fabric engaging portion and solid replaceable end pieces fastened in the ends of guide said rod along said support members.

7. In a textile machine, fabric draw-off means comprising a pair of-parallel horizontally arranged support members, a take-up reel, strap members attached to said reel and having rod free ends,

connecting means attached to .their and a rod member for connecting a folded hem offabrlc to said connecting means and comprising a solid fabric engaging portion having the ends thereof provided with cylindrical hardened replaceable end pieces for guiding said rod along in the same manner as previously indicated in connection with the end portions 2|, members 42 and 43 also, of course, being preferably formed of hardened steel or other material having good wear resistant properties.

To facilitate assembly of the cap member 42 on the rod end 40a, an opening 420 is provided which acts as a vent through which to exhaust the air which is trapped in the interior of the a cap as the latter is slipped over and fastened to said rod end. i J

The provision of replaceable end portions in a rod of the type herein set forth-makes it possible to provide a rod having fabric-receiving and bearing portions constructed of different materials best adapted for their respective uses, and also provides simple means for extending the life of the rods themselves,-inasmuch as the rod ends, which are the portions subject to the most wear, can be readily replaced when desired.

Of course. the improved fabric draw-off means can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

1. A welt rod for full-fashioned knitting machines having wear resisting portions at its ends and .an intermediate portion having separable socketed connections with said wear resisting portions. v

2. A welt rod comprising a hollow mid-section and wear resisting end portions having separable socketed connections with said hollow section.

3. A welt rod comprising an element having Q reduced end sections and wear resisting sleeve said support members.

8. In a textile machine, fabric draw-off means comprising a pair of parallel horizontally arranged support members, a take-up reel, strap members attached to said reel and having rod connecting means attached to their free ends,

and a rod member for connectingafolded hem of fabric to said connecting means and comprising a solid fabric engaging part having reduced end portions and separately formed rod end 60- pieces adapted. to be slipped over and secured to said end p rtions for guiding said rod along said support members.

9. In a textile machine, fabric draw-off means comprising a pair of parallel horizontally arranged support members, a take-up reel, strap members attached to said reel and having rod connecting means attached to their free ends, and a rod member for connecting a folded hem of fabric to said connecting means and compris ing a solid fabric engaging part having reduced end portions, and separately formed cap pieces adapted to be slipped over and secured to said end portions for guiding said rod along said support members.

10. A welt rod having separable cylindrical hardened portions at its ends for increasing the resistance to wear.

'11. In a textile machine, the combination of a pair of parallel supporting elements, a welt rod mounted to travel on said elements, said rod having cylindrical hardened separable portions at its ends adapted to increase its resistance to wear.

12. A welt rod comprising a hollow mid-secwear resistant end portions relatively larger than said reduced portions and separably associated with said mid-section.

13. A welt rod comprising an element having reduced end sections and wear resisting sleeve members separably mounted on said reduced sections.

14. A fabric draw-oil? for full-fashioned knit ting machines comprising parallel supporting elements having opposed channel grooves, and a draw-off rod moving in said grooves having separable hardened cylindrical end portions- 

